Soda fountain construction



May 23, 1933.

L. W. SCHOENFELD 1,910,262 SODA FOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed April 50, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l v I I jrwe/ntoz LE5 TER WScHOE/vFEw y 23, 1933- L. w. SCHOENFELD 1,910,262

SODA FOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 23, 1933.

L. W. SCHOENFELD SODA FOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed April 30, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 LESTER WSCHOENFELD Patented May 23, 1933 LESTER w. scnonnrnnn, or. PHILADELPHIA,,PENNSYLYANIA.

SODA FOUNTAIN consrnucrron Application filed April 30,

My invention relates to a new and useful construction in soda fountains, and it relates more particularly to a small soda fountain whichmay readily be applied to any ordinary store counter, so as readily to adapt said counterfor the dispensing of mixed beverages.

An object of my invention is to provide an eflicient and durable device for dispensing several different flavor syrups, and carbonated water to be mixed therewith.

lVith the above and other objects in view,

which will appear more fully from the fol lowing detailed description, my invention consists of a dispensing unit including a retary syrup dispensing member and a stationary carbonated water dispensing member said syrup dispensing member including means for containing a plurality of syrups and for discharging the same at will, and for properly displaying and cooling the syrups, and for maintaining. them in sanitary condition.

My invention further consists of other novel features of construction which will appear more fully from the following detailed description.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in. which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device embodying my invention, shown fullyassembled, as in actual operation.

Figure 2 represents a perspective View of the device embodying my invention, illus-- trating the same partly demounted, as when it is being refilled o-r serviced.

Figure 3 represents a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention.

1932. Serial N0. 608,461.

Figure 4: represents a top plan View, with the upper 11d member removed. Figure 5 represents a section, on an en larged scale, on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In carryingou-t my invention, the base 5 of the soda fountain unit of my invention maybe formed of metal, woodor 'stone,.or

. composition or the like, as for instance cast metal or pressed metal or marble, or molded or pressed or otherwise formed bakelite.

To the rear portion of the base 5, the upright-hollow metallic tubular shell 6 is se' cured by means of the annular base ring 7;, into which the said tubular shell 6 is set, and to which the said tubular shell 6 is rigidly secured by any suitable means, as for instance by set screws, or by other fastening means, or by soldering or the like. The base ring? is in turn secured by any suitable number of screws 8. The stationary tubular shell 19 6 serves as a standard or post for supporting the rotary syrup dispensing. unit. Within the upper end of the tubular standard or shell 6, the outer annular raceway of a ball bearing is rigidly supported,;as.indicated particularly in Figure 3. This may be accomplished by pressing the raceway into the upper end of the shell with a tight fit against the slight horizontal annular head. 10 projecting inwardly into the shell. .The inner raceway member 11 of the ball bearing is in turnsupported rotatably ina horizontal-position by the series of bearing balls 12 disposed between the inner and outer raceway members.

'To the inner raceway member 11 any suitable metallic spacer member 13 is rigidly secured by the bolts, screws or the like 14, said spacer member having the lower flange 1 5 and the upper flange 16.-

To the upper flange 16 of the spacer member 13 the horizontal base plate 17 is secured by means of the bolts -or screws' 18 The outer annular periphery of the base plate 17 overlaps from above, an inward annular flange 19 of a metallic shield member 20, and is preferably secure-d thereto by soldering or otherwise. The metallic shield member 20 extends down to the top of the stationary tubular shell 6, and overlaps the same to a slight extent, as indicated particularly in Figure 3, and when the unit is rotating, the innermost lower annular edge portion 21 of the shield or apron member 20, rides over the upper edge of the stationary shell 6, in brushing contact therewith, or slightly spaced therefrom, as may be desirable.

The plate 17 supports a series of glass containers 22, having flat bottoms 23, and the horizontal cross-section of which is generally of the shape of a segment of an annulus, as seen particularly in Figure 4.

The glass containers 22 are disposed, in generally contiguous relation with each other, as shown in Figure 4, and are further maintained in spaced relation to each other on the inside by circular spacer plates 24 and 25, which are stationarily supported by the stationary tubular pipe stem 26, which extends upwardly from the base 5 through the horizontalmembers 11,- 13 and 17.

A metallic retainer band or hoop-like member 27 surrounds the glass containers 22, to maintain them in proper spaced relation to each other, and also for supporting the name plates 28 designating the contents of each particular container.

The upright tubular pipe stem 23 is anchored stationarily and rigidly to the base 5 by means of the nuts 29 and 30. Through the stem 26, the electric conduits or wires 31 extend to light sockets 32 and 33, carry ing incandescent electric bulbs 34 and 35. The upper spacer plate 25 is carried by a series of upright rods 36, having their lower ends threadedly or otherwise rigidly secured to the lower plate 24, and having their upper ends similarly threadedly or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper plate 25. The closure member 37 is provided with a downwardly depending flange 38, and a slight horizontal flange 39, which is adapted to rest on the outer circular peripheral edges of the several glass containers 22, as indicated particularly in Figure 3.

Each syrup container 22 is provided with a spring-closed faucet 40 which may be opened by the operator by pressing inwardly the button 41 thereof. p

A glass refrigerant container 42 issupported within each syrup container 22, by an upper metallic supporting member 43 which restson the upper edge of the jar 22. I The refrigerant container 42 may be filled with cracked ice, solid carbon dioxide, or the like, for cooling the syrup. The light from the incandescent electric bulbs 34 and 35 will shine through each of the syrup containers, as well as through the refrigerant containers 42, thereby to display the contents of the con tainer. v

The carbonated water faucet or draft arm 44, carried by the upright stem 45, is provided at the front portion of the base 5, which is nearest to the operator behind the counter.

The faucet includes any. suitable Valve, manually operable by means of the handle 46, which in turn is connected to a source of carbonated water 47, by means of the tubing 48.

The source 47 may be in the form of a steel tank of carbonated water under pressure, or may be a carbonating chamber through which water and carbon dioxide gas are passed. The carbonated water is preferably first passed through a cooling coil 49 disposed within any suitable refrigerating device, such as the ice box or cooling box 50, containing ice 51.

One of the principal objects of my present invention is to provide a soda dispensing unit for store counters which are not in and of themselves fountain-type counters, and which are not primarily used as a fountain counter. Thus, the soda fountain unit of my novel construction is adapted particularlyofor counters of grocery stores, candy stores, and similar stores, and is intended also for use wherever the more expensive fountain type counter is not desired.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my. invention, what I hereby claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1 A beverage dispensing unit including a base, a rotatable member rotatably carried upon said base, a multiplicity of generally upright and substantially exposed glass compartments carried by said rotatable member, and together forminga generally cylindrical annulus having its outer surface composed of the outer walls of said glass compartments, and a metallic valve operatively aflixed to the lower portion of each of said compartments for drawing ofi the contents thereof.

2. A beverage dispensing unit including a stationary base, a rotatable member rotatably carried upon said base, an anti-friction member operatively interposed between said stationary base and said rotatable member for supporting the latter upon the former, upon a series of rolling bearing elements, a multiplicity of generally upright glass compartments carried by said rotatable member, which together form a generally cylindrical annulus having its axis generally co-incident with the axis of rotation, means for retaining said glass compartments, said means leaving a substantial portion of the outer walls of said compartments exposed from without, and a closure member common to said multiplicity of glass compartments.

3. A beverage dispensing unit including a stationary base, a rotatable member rotatably carried upon said base, an anti-friction member operatively interposed between said stationary base and said rotatable member for supporting the latter upon the former, upon a series of rolling bearing elements, a multiplicity of generally upright glass compartments carried by said rotatable member, which together form a generally cylindrical annulus having its outer surface composed of the exposed outer walls of said glass compartments, a closure member common to said multiplicity of glass compartments, and a metallic valve operatively aflixed to the lower portion of each of said glass compartments for drawing off the contents thereof.

4. A beverage dispensing unit including a base, a rotatable member rotatably carried upon said base, a multiplicity of generally upright glass compartments carried by said rotatable member, and together forming a generally cylindrical annulus having its outer surface composed of the outer exposed walls of said glass compartments, a metallic valve operatively affixed to the lower portion of each of said compartments for drawing off the contents thereof, and a closure member common to said multiplicity of glass compartments.

5. A beverage dispensing unit including a rotatable member, a plurality of glass vessels having generally wedge-shaped horizontal cross-sections arranged annularly upon said rotatable member, means for re taining said glass vessels upon said rotatable member, said means covering only a por tion of the glass and leaving a substantial portion of the outer walls of said glass ves sels exposed, and a valve operatively fixed to the lower portion of each of said glass vessels for drawing off the contents thereof.

6. A beverage dispensing unit including a rotatable member, a plurality of glass vessels having generally wedge-shaped horizontal cross-sections arranged annularly upon said rotatable member, means for retaining said glass vessels upon said rotatable member, said means covering only a portion of the glass and leaving a substantial portion of the outer walls of said glass vessels exposed, a valve operatively fixed to the lower portion of each of said glass vessels for drawing off the contents thereof, and an electrical source of light positioned intermediate said glass vessels for transmitting light through said glass vessels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

LESTER W. SCHOENFELD. 

